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Boxer Makerspace: New Lab Makes Space for Innovation

By

Mike Francis, Photos by Robbie Bourland

Perhaps the most prominent improvement on the Forest Grove Campus this summer is the new Boxer Makerspace, where students will be able to use advanced equipment to design and build projects of their own. The glassed-in space on the second floor of the Tim & Cathy Tran Library includes open work areas and meeting rooms.

1891 Golding Pearl Letterpress | This vintage letterpress was gifted to Pacific by a local business in the 1960s. It has been relocated several times, repaired, and is now ready to use for letterpress printing one sheet and one color at a time.

Mayku Formbox Vacuum Former | If you have a solid object, including those you created on 3D printers like the ones in the Boxer Makerspace, the FormBox lets you mold a thin shell of plastic around it. It creates molds for anything pourable— such as chocolate, soap— as well as making shells for masks, miniature cars and other objects.

Squink Multilayer Circuit Board Printer | Students can use the printer to build printed circuit boards with multiple layers, using conductive or insulating inks, conductive glues and placing surface-mount components. If a student imagines an electronic device, the printer can create a prototype.

Einscan-Pro 3D Scanner | For scanning larger objects, such as a human arm or leg, the Einscan-Pro captures data that can be converted into a digital 3D model. It works with all popular CAD and 3D modeling and printing software.

A resin-based 3D printer (pictured) makes models created in Sketchup, Fusion, Tinkercad or any other 3D modeling software.

The Wash & Cure machine cleans and readies printed forms for use.

The Autodesk Ember resin printer is suited for building tiny, intricate objects, such as jewelry.

Wash & Cure and Glowforge Laser Cutter & Engraver | The Wash & Cure (pictured left) works in tandem with the 3D printers. The Glowforge Cutter & Engraver (pictured right) can cut or engrave a variety of materials, including leather, wood, acrylic, glass. It can be used to make stencils, patterns, jewelry, letterpress blocks and other objects.

The Boxer Makerspace is a collaboration between the Berglund Center for Innovation and the Pacific University Libraries, made possible in part by a grant from the M.J Murdock Charitable Trust. Students pictured in top banner image (left to right): Marlo Rowan '20, Alssie Casayuran '20, Reagan Nolasco '19 and Sabrina Spurlock '20. ■